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November 21, 2012

Top Portfolio Products: Franklin Templeton Adds Portfolio Tool

Private Client Resources and the Argus Research Group form a strategic partnership

New products introduced over the last week include a new hypothetical portfolio-building tool from Franklin Templeton and a strategic partnership between Private Client Resources and Argus Research Group.

The tool, available only to financial advisors, allows each user to build hypothetical portfolios of Franklin, Templeton and Mutual series funds, as well as funds from other fund companies in a single report.

Advantage Hypotheticals has an intuitive four-step process. Financial advisors select the investments, which can include Franklin Templeton funds, market indices or funds from other firms to include in their client's portfolio.

To build the hypothetical portfolio, the advisor provides specific parameters such as investment amount, time periods and distribution instructions.

To evaluate the results, each advisor reviews a detailed analysis that includes performance, portfolio holdings, correlation, diversification, alpha, beta, capture ratios, risk comparison, and fund-by-fund investment details. A simple click creates a client-ready presentation that is customized with the financial advisor's contact information, their client's name and the report components the advisor selected.

2) PCR Announces Strategic Partnership with Argus Research

Private Client Resources (PCR) has entered into a strategic partnership with Argus Research Group that will allow users of PCR’s Palette Platform to add independent analyst-driven research on more than 400 U.S. equities into the mix when conducting risk analysis, constructing portfolios and implementing strategy decisions.

The strategic partnership with Argus Research is the latest evolution of PCR’s platform, which delivers capabilities including aggregated data, premium reporting, risk analysis, CRM, invoicing and more, while allowing users to access only those capabilities they want and need in a fully integrated package.

3) LPL Financial Adds $8.2 Billion Credit Union to Platform

Independent broker-dealer LPL Financial (LPLA) said Monday that it added Alliant Credit Union to its institutions-services platform. Based in Chicago, Alliant Credit Union is the sixth-largest U.S. credit union with $8.2 billion in assets.

“LPL Financial is an industry leader in helping banks and credit unions expand their capabilities, discover new avenues for revenue growth and become more profitable. We are especially pleased to offer our services to so prominent and well-established an institution as Alliant Credit Union,” said Andy Kalbaugh, managing director at LPL Financial Institution Services, in a press release.

In total, LPL Financial, led by Mark Casady, says it serves over 685 banks and credit unions with brokerage, trust and wealth management services. (The unit provides third-party brokerage, wealth management and trust services to investment programs of banks and credit unions.)